On a secluded stretch of Portugal’s Atlantic coast, set on a peninsula between the ocean and a wild nature reserve just beyond Comporta, lies Na Praia. Opening in Spring 2026, this distinctive 113-key independent hotel is an ode to the untamed beauty of its surroundings and the result of more than a decade of careful design and lasting commitment to conservation.
In harmony with its setting, Na Praia honours the hush of the dunes, the fragrance of pine, juniper and thyme, and the hidden life of ecosystems that define the landscape. Prioritising the protection of the dunes, its architecture follows the logic of the land and is rooted in a palpable sense of place. With an edge-of-the-world setting, located on 340 hectares of preserved wilderness, Na Praia invites stillness and a softer, slower rhythm of life. Located just over an hour from Lisbon, yet seemingly far removed, the hotel opens directly onto two kilometres of white sand, offering rare access to one of Portugal’s most pristine coastal environments.
Na Praia is the second hotel project from José António Uva, eighth-generation steward of São Lourenço do Barrocal, the much-loved farmhouse hotel in Portugal’s Alentejo. While Barrocal lies inland, rooted in agricultural traditions, Na Praia looks outward to the sea, shaped by the wild Atlantic horizon, a continuation of Uva’s work of protecting, restoring and preserving Portuguese heritage and guardianship of the land.
Design in Dialogue with the Landscape
José António Uva and the visionary design team behind Na Praia share a guiding principle: respect for the land and its three distinct ecosystems – ocean, dunes, and the estuary – which inspired the concept of Na Praia originating in 2011 when Uva discovered the stretch of raw coastal beauty. “Na Praia is about stewardship,” Uva explains. “It’s not just about building a hotel; it’s about preserving the dunes for future generations.”
Following months of in-depth research to fully understand the local ecosystems, Uva made the decisive choice to scale back the approved construction areas in the original plan by 80%. In its place, the team prioritised restoring native flora and fauna whilst removing invasive species, ensuring the hotel coexists harmoniously with its natural surroundings.
Architecture and landscaping are led by a standout team including Paris-based Studio KO, renowned for their refined aesthetics, shaped and nourished by the spirit of natural landscapes. Throughout the process, Studio KO founders Karl Fournier and Olivier Marty nurtured a deep reverence for the land and local materials. The landscaping fell under the guardianship of Athens-based Doxiadis+, pioneers in the design of symbiotic, sustainable spaces under the tutelage of Thomas Doxiadis. Together with Estúdio Lisboa, Uva’s hospitality development firm, they’ve created structures that sit perfectly on the land. Sculptural buildings emerge from the dunes using raw earth, local clay, and timber, chosen to age beautifully and withstand Atlantic winds. “The landscape gives us our architecture,” explains Studio KO co-director Olivier Marty. “We try to be modest when we arrive at a site like this. We don’t want to impose ourselves.”
Immersive Understated Luxury
The hotel will offer 42 rooms, 3 suites, 63 houses, and 5 villas, all secluded amongst the pines or dunes, some with private pools. Interiors reflect the palette of the coast; sandy neutrals, soft wood, and textures inspired by local lichens and juniper.
A sense of place flows through every aspect of Na Praia, informing everything from the minimally invasive architecture to the ingredients featured in restaurant menus. Every detail is intentional. As Uva puts it, “There’s scale and beauty, but we’re pared back”.
This pure spirit draws on other key local influences: the pristine beauty of the Arrábida nature reserve, the 2,000-year-old Tróia Roman ruins, and the surrounding Comporta rice fields and Alcacér do Sal salt pans highlighting local, centuries-old agricultural traditions. Electric buggies are custom designed for the sandy terrain, and all guest cars are parked at the edge of the site to maintain serenity. Lighting is minimal and embedded naturally into the environment.
A Taste of the Atlantic
Na Praia’s culinary philosophy will celebrate the bounty of southern Portugal, with ingredients sourced from the rice fields, estuaries, and farms of nearby Comporta, Grândola, and Alcácer do Sal. Here, guests can savour hyper-local produce, from cuttlefish from Carrasqueira’s traditional stilt pier to vegetables grown on an all-female-run farm.
Na Praia’s five restaurants will feature a refined yet relaxed beachside spot serving fresh and grilled seafood and Atlantic catches of the day, a relaxed outpost for Mediterranean family-style meals, a unique dining experience with Portuguese soul, and a bakery-deli by day, wine bar by night. Guests can also opt for custom picnic baskets to enjoy toes-in-sand wherever the day takes them.
Experiences That Enrich and Connect
For those looking to unwind and reconnect, Na Praia’s spacious spa, seemingly carved from the dunes themselves, is an architectural highlight and features core movement and physical wellness studios, in addition to private treatment rooms and facilities drawing upon the healing power of water.
Na Praia will offer immersive experiences tied to its rich ecosystem and culture both on land and on sea, from guided nature walks with a resident biologist, classic boat excursions to Arrábida Natural Park and the Sado Estuary, to cooking classes mastering traditional coastal recipes, and activities at the Kid’s Club sparking creativity and a connection to nature amongst little ones.
Positioned in Portugal’s “Perfect Triangle”
Na Praia completes southern Portugal’s ‘perfect triangle’, combined with the urban buzz of Lisbon and the serene countryside of Alentejo, each less than a two-hour drive from Na Praia.
Beyond its opening, Na Praia aspires to set a benchmark for architecture and hospitality in tune with nature and privacy. Its legacy will be one of presence and care, a timeless celebration of Portugal’s untamed beauty for generations to come.
